Eating out becomes scary
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I can not relate to being scared to go out to eat. It's all about planning ahead and portion control. Enjoy the damn steak, ask them to weigh it for it and quit being scared, because you'll be going out to eat your entire life from time to time
Now that I've read so many advices I know how to tackle the problem so I am not scared of eating out anymore. Thanks for the advice!0 -
Part of our weight loss journey is learning how to deal with food. Eating as a family is part of life - a very nice part so please don't miss out. Pass on the starter - enjoy a sensible main course - if it's satisfying you won't want a dessert, but if you do, go for something simple. It's one day; up your exercise on the day and following day and you'll be fine.Have fun :drinker:
This plus check online for nutritional information.0 -
I have to disagree with those suggesting you take a cheat day or cheat meal. Only because for me, it has all to often led to me falling off my plan completely. I changed my life when I learned how to always be on plan, and in such a way as to still eat out fairly often, and enjoy, truly enjoy, my food, cooking etc.
I will research ahead of time, any restaurant we are going to - many, if you google the name of the restaurant with "nutrition menu" or "nutrition information", will have their menu items with the calories counts available. If they don't, I look at the entrees and choose ahead of time, one that looks easily workable for my plan.
I've found that ranch salad dressing, served on the side is usually 2 tablespoons, and I end up having half. The richest salad dressing I use at home is Litehouse brand where 2 tab. is 150 calories, so that is my guide. If I think I have the calories for dessert (and have decided to forgo sharing an appetizer, having a bun with my burger etc.) I may bring my own fav in the car - like a Bumblebee chai tea bar or a Kind dark chocolate nuts & sea salt bar - both under 250 calories.
I've had marvelous luck at Mexican restaurants who are wonderful about serving me an entrée without the beans or rice and instead giving me salad on the plate or grilled veggies.
Chicken is always a good bet when out, you can have a huge chicken breast (raw weight) for under 300 calories, and most menus do list the weight of the entrée (6 oz. steak, 8 oz. chicken breast etc.). Salmon is another good bet.
It can be scary, frustrating at first, but if you *want* to make figure out how to eat out, you can! It's all about finding out how to make it work, versus why it can't.
I've lost as of this morning over 154 lbs. doing this over the past almost 3 years (over 66 since coming to use mfp), and wanted to share what has been working for me.
Wow, thanks for all the useful strategies! I really do appreciate you sharing them with me! I've definitely learnt a lot from it!0 -
If it is becoming scary then you need to rethink a few things.
this.
i eat out all the time and i have yet to experience FEAR.0 -
If it is becoming scary then you need to rethink a few things.
this.
i eat out all the time and i have yet to experience FEAR.
I don't get to as often as I'd like, but yeah, never been scared.0 -
Not at all. She's just trying to learn a new skill (maintenence) and it's a little scary for almost everyone at first.Eating out hasn't become scary. You have become obsessive.
OP, it's really common for unknowns like restaurant food to freak people out when you switch to maintenence. It's a different head space than when you're trying to lose, and it just takes practice. If you can look up the restaurant's menu beforehand, easy-peasy! If not, take a guess at what you're going to have and pre-log so you have a ballpark idea of the number of calories you have to play with the rest of the day. If you go over your maintenence calories for that day, so what? Eat a little less over then next couple of days, or work in a little more exercise.
Above all, go and enjoy your time with your family. Eat someting you enjoy, and relax.
I will usually have home cooked dinner and don't really eat out so I'm kind of new to eating out. But, now with all the suggestions given. I am not afraid anymore! Just as you've mentioned it's about learning a new skill~ Thanks for the help!0 -
Maybe using the word 'scared' is a little too strong, but I was just lost, not knowing what to do. But now that I've been given lots of useful advice. I don't see eating out as a problem anymore. Thanks for all the help! I really do appreciate them!0
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Go out and enjoy yourself every once in a while!
As long as you are not going out every night and gorging you will be fine. I promise.0 -
Go out and enjoy yourself every once in a while!
As long as you are not going out every night and gorging you will be fine. I promise.
Thank you for the encouragement! I shall learn to relax and enjoy myself! (:0 -
I used to have that fear when I started out - and it was difficult since I normally go out at least twice a week with friends to restaurants. Eventually you'll just get to an intuitive point where you can estimate what you are eating, to the nearest 100 or so and just work it from there based on whatever you are trying to do at the time.
HOWEVER, that is if you go out regularly. If its just a family thing every once a while, heck I would go and eat half the menu if I needed. Food with family is all about fun and relaxation - so indulge and enjoy then next day go back to doing your thing, who cares.
I went to visit the family recently for about 10 days, each day we went out either for food or dessert - didn't blink an eye. When I was back I hardly gained a thing - and picked up where I left off.0 -
now i really want a steak.0
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I used to have that fear when I started out - and it was difficult since I normally go out at least twice a week with friends to restaurants. Eventually you'll just get to an intuitive point where you can estimate what you are eating, to the nearest 100 or so and just work it from there based on whatever you are trying to do at the time.
HOWEVER, that is if you go out regularly. If its just a family thing every once a while, heck I would go and eat half the menu if I needed. Food with family is all about fun and relaxation - so indulge and enjoy then next day go back to doing your thing, who cares.
I went to visit the family recently for about 10 days, each day we went out either for food or dessert - didn't blink an eye. When I was back I hardly gained a thing - and picked up where I left off.
It's great to hear that you've overcome the fear! I hope that I will soon be able to estimate the cal of the food in the menu. You're right eating out and spending time with family should be a relaxing thing!0 -
Cheat days are a beautiful thing. Always remember that.
That said, the first time I was on a big weight loss journey (to drop 70 lbs), cheat days used to make me feel so guilty and made me kind of hate myself because I kept thinking "I shouldn't do that, I shouldn't do that!!!"
So, I stopped calling them cheat days ... because, just mentally, that made me feel like I was "cheating".
Now I refer to them as "Planned breaks".
It sounds stupid, I know, but even just changing the terminology helped me change the way I thought about it.
For instance, this sunday I'm going to a big St Patrick's Day event with my friends. I knew it was coming up, and I planned for it. So I won't feel bad about overeating, because it was part of my plan the entire week.
Not cheating. Planned.
Mentally, for me, it makes a world of difference.0 -
If it is becoming scary then you need to rethink a few things.
this.
i eat out all the time and i have yet to experience FEAR.
I don't get to as often as I'd like, but yeah, never been scared.
Beg to disagree. I've had some terrible beaver before.0 -
I immediately ask for a box once my food has arrived and cut everything in half and put it away (as long as its something that can be reheated). If the food is sitting in front of me I will continue to eat it, this is how I manage eating out.0
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Go out for dinner and enjoy.
One meal isn't going to end the world.0 -
I now find eating out is a scary thing to do. My parents want to bring my bro and I out for dinner but I feel scared because I don't know how much the prime ribeye steak I am going to eat weighs.. In a situation like this how do you overcome it? I've totally no idea how much the steak weighs and because of this I'm thinking of not going out to eat with them... So eating out has became a problem for me...
I would just like to commend you on your choice of the prime ribeye steak - best steak out there (other than maybe a Saratoga ribeye), and not going for a sirloin (tough), filet (tender but lacks flavor), or a strip (probably the second best choice)!
As others have said, almost every steak restaurant I know of list the ounces on the menu or will provide it to you if you ask. If it is a good steak restaurant that cuts their meat in house, you may even be able to have them cut the steak for you, so you could choose a smaller portion and they will weigh it right there because they will charge you by the ounce. I went out for dinner last week and they had a "chef cut ribeye" option where I requested 12 oz and when the guy cut it it was only 10oz. I was happy to save the extre $7 ($3.50/oz) but really would have loved those few extra bites at the end of my meal! Thankfully there were jalapeno cheddar grits, grilled asparagus, and salted caramel ice cream to help me cope...0 -
My restaurant strategy is usually get what you want... but only have half.
Take the rest home and get another meal out of it. Share dessert or skip it and have something you can control better when you get home. 0 -
Thank you for all the great advices! I guess I will just go for the dinner because I can't possibly not eat out for the rest of my life!
^
That. When I found myself having that moment, I mentally smacked myself and had a lovely meal. This is a long, meandering journey--enjoy the occasional detour and then get back on the main highway.0 -
Thank you for all the great advices! I guess I will just go for the dinner because I can't possibly not eat out for the rest of my life!
Exactly!
Being afraid of these things and of food is only going to lead to a miserable life.
How often do you eat out? If it is like me, then not often at all. One meal, heck one DAY won't ruin all that you have worked for. Enjoy yourself.0 -
Given you are the girl, who with a BMI of 17.4, was worrying about having gained a kilo not too long ago, and who has posted another thread about this gained kilo, I seriously think you need to be seeking some help as you are showing distinct signs of eating disordered thinking and obsessing. Your post history is very indicative there is a problem there.0
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I look up the nutrition info before I go. Then I incorporate it into my daily calorie count.0
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most steak restaurants have the weight of the steak on the menu. If not, you can always just ask your server.0
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Given you are the girl, who with a BMI of 17.4, was worrying about having gained a kilo not too long ago, and who has posted another thread about this gained kilo, I seriously think you need to be seeking some help as you are showing distinct signs of eating disordered thinking and obsessing. Your post history is very indicative there is a problem there.
I've mentioned that I have checked the Singapore government's BMI calculator and it shows that I'm not underweight...
I'm learning to deal with eating out and now the problem has been solved. Thanks for the concern (:0 -
Whatever you do, don't skip dinner with family. I try very hard to stay within my calorie limits. We went out to a favorite restaurant to try their new beef stroganoff. I asked the waitress to bring me a to-go box when she brought my dinner. I spooned half of the stroganoff into the box, spread the rest out on my plate and cleaned my plate along with a salad with dressing I brought along. One of the best suggestions I have read here is to use Bolthouse Yogart salad dressings. They are awesome and 45 cals for 2 tablespoons. Go and enjoy your dinner and take a nice long walk the next morning. :glasses:0
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enjoy the night out with your friends and family ..you only live once…
have a steak, some red wine and roasted potatoes…you can also get a 6 0z filet and that is like 400 cals….
you did not get fat on one night of eating out….0 -
Whatever you do, don't skip dinner with family. I try very hard to stay within my calorie limits. We went out to a favorite restaurant to try their new beef stroganoff. I asked the waitress to bring me a to-go box when she brought my dinner. I spooned half of the stroganoff into the box, spread the rest out on my plate and cleaned my plate along with a salad with dressing I brought along. One of the best suggestions I have read here is to use Bolthouse Yogart salad dressings. They are awesome and 45 cals for 2 tablespoons. Go and enjoy your dinner and take a nice long walk the next morning. :glasses:
Beef stroganoff sounds good! At home I would use natural yogurt or apple cider as salad dressing which is low calorie and yummy!
Thanks for the help! (:0 -
Why do you HAVE to eat the prime ribeye steak? Is that the only option or can you pick something a little more healthy? If not, just plan ahead! Know what a serving size of prime rib is and stick to it. Otherwise, like many others here have said....don't sweat it! One cheat meal a week isn't going to break your many other healthy choices :-) Good luck!0
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enjoy the night out with your friends and family ..you only live once…
have a steak, some red wine and roasted potatoes…you can also get a 6 0z filet and that is like 400 cals….
you did not get fat on one night of eating out….
I will skip the wine and roasted potato to make room for my steak with garden veggie as sides (: thanks for the help!0 -
Why do you HAVE to eat the prime ribeye steak? Is that the only option or can you pick something a little more healthy? If not, just plan ahead! Know what a serving size of prime rib is and stick to it. Otherwise, like many others here have said....don't sweat it! One cheat meal a week isn't going to break your many other healthy choices :-) Good luck!
I'm thinking of either prime ribeye or New York strip... Because I'm getting the steak i will opt for veggie as sides~
Thanks for the help!0
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